Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik (APCAW) is a group of Indigenous and non-indigenous researchers, Tribal members, and forest caretakers working together to bring more awareness of the cultural and ecological significance of ash trees and efforts to conserve them.

“Ash trees, in particular brown ash (used interchangeably with black ash, Fraxinus nigra), are a cultural keystone species for Wabanaki communities and a crucial part of wetland ecosystems in the Northeast. The spread of the invasive forest pest EAB has caused 99% brown ash tree mortality in other areas of Turtle Island, and will have a considerable effect on ecosystems and traditions as it spreads through the Dawnland.”  – APCAW

Wild Seed Project is proud to serve as a partner in the collaboration, focused on the collecting and sowing of ash seeds.

Come join this conversation with the APCAW team to learn more about ways you and your community can get involved in this effort.

A week before the conversation, we will send out an intro webinar for you to watch if you have not, and the Seed Collection Manual, both of which will be discussed by the APCAW team. We will also send the Zoom link at this time.

We will call for questions before the webinar, and offer those questions to the APCAW team to begin the conversation. We will then open the floor to participants to ask their questions directly to the team.

Register here.

Come join Nell Houde, Wild Seed Project’s Manager of Educational Programs, for a Wildflower Walk at Trout Brook Preserve!

In this walk, participants will learn how to identify many of the plants growing around the conservation area. We will learn as a group how to observe and ask questions of our surroundings, and identify the varied plants, shrubs, trees, ferns, and wildlife along the trail.

The goal of community walks is to foster relationships with place through relationships with plants and encourage further stewardship of our common spaces. Come walk and learn with Wild Seed Project!

Register here. See location map.

Please be aware of ticks — wear proper gear and check for ticks thoroughly after the walk.

Come experience the fecundity of the summer season with the Wild Seed Project!

In this Portland-based Four Season Walks series, co-hosted by Wild Seed Project and Portland Trails, participants will learn how to identify and form relationships with many of the native plants that grow in the places we call home. Join Nell Houde, Wild Seed Project’s education lead, as we explore the Midslope Trail on the Eastern Prom in the bustling city of Portland. This will be the second of four walks identify plants in their various life-stages. If you came to the first walk, we encourage you to come to this one!

The goal of these walks is to foster relationships with place through relationships with plants, and encourage further stewardship of our community spaces. Come walk, learn, and play with Wild Seed Project and Portland Trails! We will meet at the beginning of the Midslope trail. We encourage you to carpool if you are coming from outside of Portland, and park along the Eastern Promenade road, or walk if you are coming from the city.

Expect an email with more information about parking and preparation the day before the walk.

Register here.

Please be aware of ticks — wear proper gear and check for ticks thoroughly after the walk.

Join Wild Seed Project’s Executive Director, Andrea Berry, for the third and final webinar of The City of Portland’s Lunch and Learn Summer Landcare Series. She will be sharing how to transform yards into blooming, biodiverse, and resilient spaces in the face of climate change. From cooling and shading the city to reducing storm water runoff and sustaining vital pollinators, the Wild Seed Project will share about the abundant benefits of planting native.

Register here.

In this Four Season Walks series, learn how to identify many of the native plants that grow at Skyline Farm. Wild Seed Project Staff will share about the native wildflowers, ferns, shrubs, and trees and their field and forest habitats around the farm. They’ll also share other fun information on the plants’ uses as edibles, herbals and landscape plantings. Learning to recognize the native species in our midst is the first step toward becoming caring stewards of the places we live, work, and play.

This summer plant walk is the second of the series. Come experience the abundance of the summer season in this walk. If you came to the walk we hosted in the spring, we encourage you to attend this second one as well!

Register here.

Shop the Sale

It’s that time again!

Funds raised from this event support all of our community-based programs including Free Seeds for Teachers, experiential ecology programs in schools statewide, free educational resources and seed sowing workshops, and so much more.

See plant list here.

IMPORTANT DATES:
WSP Member Online Access: 12 PM August 9 – August 13
Wild Seed Project Members get exclusive early access to our plant sale. Join Today!
General Public Online Access: 12 PM August 14 – August 20

• Memberships must be purchased or renewed by August 4th to be granted early access
• Members will receive a special link to access the sale on August 9th
• General public access to the sale will begin on August 14th
• All orders must be made online by August 20th
• All orders must be picked up at Turkey Hill Farm in Cape Elizabeth, Maine on August 26th and August 27th

PLEASE NOTE:
Our plants have been grown outdoors, from hand-collected, ethically sourced seed by Wild Seed Project staff and volunteers.  They have been tended using organic growing practices, without the use of harmful pesticides. Please note that Wild Seed Project’s plants are typically smaller than those found in conventional nurseries because of these growing practices.

Have more questions? See our Plant Sale FAQ Page.

Dates and Times:
Saturday, August 26th: 10am-3pm
Sunday, August 27th: 10am-2pm

*Alternate pick up date scheduled for Saturday, September 9th: 10am-2pm
Pleased email Rachel to register for the September 9th pick up.

Address:
Plant pick up is at Turkey Hill Farm, 120 Old Ocean House Drive, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107

Plant Vendors:
The following native plant growers will be selling plants or offering pre-order pickups
(please reach out to them for more information):
Native Haunts
Rebel Hill Farm
Blue Aster Native Plants (order forms can be found HERE)
Sweet Fern Maine

Artist Vendors:
The following artists, who Wild Seed Project has collaborated with on various projects, will also have tables and will be selling their artwork.
Isabella Zoe Ciolfi
Lin Snow
Opal Robinson

» Find out more

See you at the Fair! Find us in Agricultural Products this year!

The Common Ground Country Fair will be held at the Common Ground Education Center in Unity, Maine on September 22, 23 and 24, 2023. The fairgrounds are open Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Seed Program Manager, Emily Baisden will be presenting “Planting for Pollinators” on the Litchfield Stage on Friday, 9.22 at 12PM
• Executive Director, Andrea Berry will be presenting “Planting Seeds of Resilience” on the Litchfield Stage on Saturday, 9.23 at 1PM

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s (MOFGA) annual celebration of rural living features 1000-plus exhibitors and speakers, and emphasizes vibrant communities, sustainable living and local economies, while highlighting organic agriculture.